[caption id="attachment_198814" align="alignright" width="220"] The southbound and northbound I-45 high occupancy vehicle lanes between South Loop 336 and FM 1960 opened to commuters[/caption]

1. I-45 HOV lanes

The southbound and northbound I-45 high occupancy vehicle lanes between South Loop 336 and FM 1960 opened to commuters Oct. 17 and Oct. 31, respectively. The Texas Department of Transportation project added one north- and one southbound HOV lane, free to commuters 24/7. Timeline: October 2015-Oct. 31, 2016 Cost: $2.6 million Funding sources: TxDOT

2. Rayford Road widening

This Montgomery County Precinct 3 road bond project will widen Rayford Road from four to six lanes between Lazy Lane and the Grand Parkway. In addition, an overpass will be constructed over the Union Pacific Corp. railroad tracks. Precinct 3 is 80 percent finished with the right of way acquisition process and expects to complete that process by the end of December. The project design team has submitted 95 percent of the construction documents to the Montgomery County engineer’s office and plans to submit final documents for review by mid-November. Project bids will be solicited by mid-December and reviewed in mid-January. Timeline: early 2017-late 2019 Cost: $60 million Funding sources: Montgomery County Precinct 3

3. Kuykendahl Road bridge

A dual bridge will be built on Kuykendahl Road over Spring Creek in an effort to mitigate traffic congestion between Montgomery and Harris counties. The project bid was awarded June 30, and the notice to proceed was issued Sept. 26. Since then, a project office has been established on-site, and construction is underway. The right of way clearing effort on the south side of Spring Creek, within Harris County, is nearing completion. The right of way clearing effort on the north side of Spring Creek, within Montgomery County, began in early November. The project is on schedule, and the contract allows 270 days for installation. Timeline: late September 2016-June 2017 Cost: $6 million Funding sources: The Woodlands Road Utility District No. 1, Montgomery County, Harris County

4. Improvements to Branch Crossing and Terramont drives

The Montgomery County Precinct 3 project will install a new traffic signal and flashing yellow arrow at the intersection of Branch Crossing and Terramont drives. The project also added a right- and left-turn lane to the intersection, which was completed in late September. Construction on the traffic signal installation is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-November. Timeline: August-mid-November Cost: $250,000 Funding sources: Montgomery County Precinct 3

5. Improvements to Lake Front Circle and Pinecroft Drive

The Montgomery County Precinct 3 project installed a new traffic signal to the intersection of Lake Front Circle and Pinecroft Drive. Earlier this year, a traffic signal at Lake Front Circle and Six Pines Drive was also installed by Montgomery County Precinct 3. The two signals will be coordinated in November to better enhance mobility. Timeline: September-October Cost: $125,000 Funding sources: Montgomery County Precinct 3

6. Sawdust Road medians project

The Montgomery County Precinct 3 project will create access management lanes on Sawdust Road between Grogans Mill Road and Borough Park Drive, through the installation of medians. This is Phase 2 of a bigger project to improve mobility along the Rayford-Sawdust road corridor. Phase 1, which focused on creating access management lanes on Rayford Road began at the end of 2015. Phase 2 is expected to be complete by mid-November. Timeline: October-mid-November Cost: TBA Funding sources: Montgomery County Precinct 3

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How it works

Why are we paying tolls after toll road construction is paid for?

Tolls pay for more than just building new toll roads. Though tolls do go toward repaying the bonds sold to fund constructing new roads, they also pay for operating and maintaining the existing roadways and funding expansions and improvements.

Essentially, a toll road is never completely paid for.

The state’s population is projected to increase to more than 30 million people by 2020, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. As the population increases, toll roads may undergo improvement projects to accommodate for the increased traffic congestion.

Regularly scheduled increases of toll rates also help pay for future projects.

Gas taxes and vehicle registration fees do not fund the toll roads. That revenue is used to fund nontolled projects by the Texas Department of Transportation. Toll roads, on the other hand, are largely funded through the sale of bonds that are repaid through tolls.